Comrades Page #6

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Tell me, James,

are you happy here working for me?

Yes.

I've been happy enough, Mrs Carlyle.

Mrs Carlyle!

Mrs Carlyle.

My name's Violet.

Yes, ma'am.

Do you know, ever since my husband...

Do you know, I've never heard my name

for three whole years?

I was prepared to think I never had one.

Have you ever thought, James,

to make yourself a life out here?

I mean, this country has a lot to offer

for a man like you.

How should I have managed without you?

I could see to it that you had every opportunity.

I could arrange for your wife and your children

to come and join you.

I'm childless.

Ah, it's terrible to be alone with oneself.

I do wish you'd consider it.

I'm not getting any younger.

I love my wife.

(Beckons and clicks tongue)

I'm sorry to lose you.

This is from your brother.

George?

'My dearest brother,

I pray to God my message reaches you at last.

I've tried all manner of means,

but hearing nothing from you,

I've feared the worst.

It gladdens my heart to alert you

to the news of our freedom.

The Good Lord has looked into

the hearts of men,

and shown them that, imperfect as we are,

we did never countenance violence

nor any violation of the law.

Good friends at home have rallied to our cause

and argued long and hard on our behalf.

Rejoice, my long lost brother,

in the free pardon granted to us.

See to it that you complete your work

to the best of your ability,

that our time here

may be said to be honestly done.

We shall all be waiting to welcome you,

all save Hammett, of whom there is no trace.

Fear not, brother.

He that is for us

is more than all that is against us.

We will, we will be free.

Your ever loving brother,

George Loveless. '

(Sings to himself)

Come on. That's good.

Ah, s, s.

S, bella, bella.

(Chuckles) Bella. Bellissima!

No touch.

It's very hot, you understand?

It's hot, it's... (Sizzles)

Ah, hot! Caldo. Molto caldo.

No touch, no. You come with me.

I take your image.

I take image of you.

You understand? Come, come. I show you.

I show you.

Standing here. Standing very still.

Like so. Very still.

You stand. Good.

Yeah, very good. Very good.

Stand here, very still.

Good, good, good.

(Chuckles)

Molto, molto bene!

Mwah! Mwah! (Chuckles)

Oh, it's so good. Don't move!

Ges bambino!

Madonna di Dio! Hey!

Get a... Get away!

You get a... Go away!

Go away! Va via! Move! Move!

Move!

No, no, no. Mo?e, mo?e!

No, no, no, no!

Stay still.

No, you, get away! Get...

Oh, mamma mia!

You, stay, but you, move!

Stay very still!

Dieci, nove, otto, sette,

sei, cinque, quattro, tre,

due, uno!

(Tinkling)

(Whistles)

Hammett!

Ges!

(Clattering)

(Wails)

(Mutters angrily)

What do you do?

You destroy my work!

(Wails)

Idiota!

(Photographer sobs)

(Cackles)

(Audience gasps)

(Cackles)

AUCTIONEER:
Magnificent creature,

ladies and gentlemen.

Feast yourself on that gleaming, naked flesh -

the arms... made for lifting heavy loads,

the back, like a mule.

Come now, ladies and gentlemen.

You all look as if you could do with

a little domestic assistance.

(Ribald laughter)

The torso, ladies and gentlemen.

The biceps!

Ah, ladies and gentlemen,

what am I bid for this fine human specimen?

What am I bid?

He may be a bit rough and ready,

but treat him right, I say,

and there's a hard day's work in him yet.

I want to hear the sound of money,

ladies and gentlemen.

Four shillings.

Now, there's a lady of measure.

FOP:
Five shillings.

WOMAN. Six shillings.

FOP:
Seven shillings.

WOMAN:
Eight shillings.

FOP:
Nine shillings.

Dig deep into your pockets.

I want to hear the jingle of coin.

Is there any advance on 17 shillings?

FOP:
18.

Do I hear a pound?

Will anyone give me a round pound?

Look at the muscles, ladies and gentlemen.

One pound.

Going, for a pound.

Going, going...

gone for a pound!

Thank you, sir.

Jump!

(Whispers)

The bastard.

He won't lick me.

I'll see him in hell first.

So how's it feel to join the nobility?

If you were old enough to know better,

I'd chop your balls off.

There's one thing you don't do, son.

And that's turn against your own kind.

There's some folk that think

they're better than others. They're not.

They're just more selfish, that's all.

What's your name?

Out here, I have no name.

Why are you here?

I'm here instead of my brother.

What's the difference? We're all brothers.

What did your brother do?

He's a carpenter, a craftsman.

If it wasn't for him and others like him,

then everything would just fall apart.

I mean, what crime did he commit?

Him?

Oh, he didn't do anything wrong.

He just wanted to see folks treated right.

He believed in what he was doing.

And out there, there are five others just like him.

Now that I know what they've been through,

I admire them.

I count myself one of them.

All my life, people thought they owned me.

But I'm a free man.

In here, where it counts,

I am a free man.

No matter how other men may treat you,

they can never own your soul.

Remember that.

Push!

Run!

Jump!

Agh!

CHARLIE:
Help!

Help!

(Men laugh)

Help!

Get down here.

You are a very silly young man.

Come on, run. Run.

So, comrade...

are you going to tell us your name,

or aren't you?

Are you going to tell us your name,

or aren't you?

Free man.

My name...

.. is Adam Freeman.

(Heavy thud)

Now, you just sign this transportation order.

I'll give you a receipt.

He'll be sent to the penal settlement

at Norfolk Island...

.. the dwelling of devils in human form,

and refuse of Botany Bay,

doubly damned.

He'd be better off dead.

(Thunder cracks)

(Audience whistles and claps)

(Cheering)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my privilege

to stand here as a representative of you all -

many thousands of men and women

from all parts of the country...

.. whose prayers and entreaties

and remonstrances...

.. have brought about the return

of these ill-used men.

(Applause)

And...

And have supported their families...

.. during their long and arduous exile.

(Cheering)

I do not have to remind you that the women

have suffered along with their men.

We shall not forget the authors and abettors

of this cruel and vindictive violation

of the laws of humanity.

Most truly, those men have earned

for themselves an ignoble fame.

But my task today is to praise and thank

those others who have helped our cause.

(Crowd shouts out names)

Robert Owen! Cobbett!

Grantwell! Whitley! Moore and Pitt!

(Pitt chuckles) Yes.

But see who have really lent their weight

to these joint efforts.

The silk weavers,

shipwrights,

- joiners...

- Trimmers!

- .. cordwainers...

- Blacksmiths!

- .. journeymen tailors...

- Whitesmiths!

- .. hatters...

- Brassmakers!

- .. corkers...

- Tin-plate workers.

- Bricklayers!

- Blacksmiths!

Glass-blowers!

- Trimmers!

- Wheelers!

Brassmakers!

Yes, yes, yes.

Paper stainers, coach painters...

Gardeners!

.. and gardeners.

To all of you, our heartfelt thanks.

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